A micro-light pilot and his passenger were lucky to escape with just minor injuries after their craft crash-landed in a field in strong winds.

Malcolm Roberts, 58, of Sarn, near, Pwllheli, and his friend were coming in to land in Penrhyn Llyn when they were caught by strong winds.

Locals said the craft then hit a fence before landing.

Fire officers who attended the scene at Rhydlios, near Aberdaron, just before 9pm on Tuesday night to make the craft safe said: "The two injured men were walking wounded, they were extremely lucky."

Air accident investigators are looking into the cause.

Yesterday the pilot, Malcolm, admitted they had both been “lucky” to have escaped with only minor injuries.

He said: “The wind was blowing strongly and the microlight was hit on its side. We landed heavily. I had to come in to land – I had no choice – because I only had another 15 minutes left after sunset before I had to land.

“Fair play to the lady owner of the field we landed on who called an ambulance. The fire brigade were already out practising and people have been helpful. Nobody was badly injured. I’ve injured my shoulder – but I’m still going and able to tell the tale.”

Father-of-two Malcolm, who was sitting in the front of the £15,000 microlight, with his passenger behind him, said he “wasn’t afraid.”

Although he suffered bruising to his shoulder, Malcolm said this was his first accident in a microlight since he started 10 years ago.

He said: “It could have been worse.”

Malcolm was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor for a check-up.

Malcolm, who said he had “more than nine lives”, said he had also been lucky after walking away from two serious motorbike accidents in the past.

The first one happened when he was 20 when he was in a collision with a car being driven by an elderly man. Malcolm lost some of his fingers and smashed his leg. He could not work for three years.

The second accident happened five years ago – again when he was riding a motorcycle.

The father-of-two, who runs his own plumbing and electricians’ business, admitted that he liked “speed” – be it in a microlight or on a motorbike but that the accident hadn’t put him off.